Manitoba Wildlands
Federal Election Survey 2004

Voting Box
This election survey has been sent to five political parties in Canada. (Election day is June 28, 2004.) For details on public policy regarding Manitoba's lands and waters, 2003 election environment commitments, policy and protected areas mapping, go to our Governments page. Each question has been posed to the political parties based on their campaign to form government in Canada. The survey requests either a Yes or No answer to each question, with comments optional. Please Note: responses from the political parties have not been altered in any way. When a party did not answer a question with a definite Yes or No, " — " was entered.
NOTE - Only 3 parties responded (NDP, Green Party, Liberals).

Protected Areas    Species At Risk    Water
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA)
East Side Lake Winnipeg    Energy & Climate Change
   

Energy & Climate Change Questions

Q30 Will your government encourage all provinces and territories to put Renewable Portfolio Standards for new renewable energy in place immediately (following the example of PEI, New Brunswick, Ontario and 14 US states)?

  YES NO Comment
NDP
Conservative — — TBA
Green Party  
Liberal — — A Liberal government will work with provinces in a cooperative manner and suggest best practices. The fact the federal government has signed memoranda of understanding on Climate Change with four provinces and territories (Ontario, Manitoba, P.E.I. and Nunavut) represents a promising start. However, the federal level has no actual power to directly legislate RPFs. It is up to the provinces to decide on appropriate regulatory tools and incentives.
Bloc — — TBA



Q31 Will your government put in place a system of transparent, public reporting for emissions, and carbon stocks for Canada?

  YES NO Comment
NDP
Conservative — — TBA
Green Party    
Liberal Yes. Our government has started to move in this direction already. Earlier this year, we introduced guidelines for reporting greenhouse gas emissions from large emitters and Canada participates in the UNFCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) inventory of carbon emissions. Under Canada's Kyoto commitment, these are necessary actions.
In the future, this system could be a launching pad for a strengthened and more transparent overall pollutant release inventory. The Liberal government has started on an ambitious policy course with the introduction, in 2003, of new and stringent emission standards for all new thermal power facilities.
Bloc — — TBA



Q32 Will your government guarantee that energy projects with federal government funding will be subject to all standards and guidelines under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) as part of the environmental assessment for the project?

  YES NO Comment
NDP
Conservative — — TBA
Green Party    
Liberal — — The CEAA is due for a review and a Liberal government would lead by example in requiring stringent application of CEAA standards to its projects.
Bloc — — TBA



Q33 Will your government guarantee that all transboundary transmission systems for new energy projects will be subject to all regulations, standards and guidelines under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) as part of the environmental assessment for the project?

  YES NO Comment
NDP
Conservative — — TBA
Green Party    
Liberal — —  
Bloc — — TBA
.

Q34 Will your government ensure that First Nation and Aboriginal rights will be respected and accommodated (as per consultation standards set by Canada's courts) as part of environmental assessments under CEAA for energy projects with federal government funding, including all transmission systems projects?

  YES NO Comment
NDP
Conservative — — TBA
Green Party  
Liberal    
Bloc — — TBA



Q35 Will your government ensure that the National Energy Board continues to take into account environmental impacts, and First Nations rights inside Canada when reviewing permit applications?

  YES NO Comment
NDP
Conservative — — TBA
Green Party    
Liberal — — This is another complex and evolving area of policymaking that is closely tied to our Kyoto commitments. The Liberal government has been dealing with greenhouse gas inventories and with carbon sequestration according to the Action Plan on Climate Change. As a supporting policy measure, Budget 2004 committed $ 15 million towards establishing reliable indicators for climate change-causing releases, and air and water quality.
Bloc — — TBA



Q36 Will your government commit to the creation of a CEAA standard for including an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon sequestration as part of the environmental assessment process?

  YES NO Comment
NDP
Conservative — — TBA
Green Party    
Liberal
Bloc — — TBA